Fujifilm X-E1 – Fujinon XR 35mm f/1.4 R – 4 sec, f/16, Iso 200

image courtesy: www.riflessifotografici.com

A few days ago I posted the review of the X-PRO1, X-100 and X-10 of riflessifotografici. I have to say that I liked them a lot. So this time I waited for the X-E1 review. And now it’s here, it’s online. (translated version)

Angeloni begins so: You want to know how the image quality of the X-E1 is? You wanna know about the RAW-conversion with adobe? The autofocus? Writing speed? Well, same as X-PRO1, so stop reading, and good bye!

So I continued to read! ;)

Massimiliano Angeloni tested the new X-E1 with the 35mm lens and the 18-55mm zoom lens. And regarding the 18-55 lens, don’t expect over-hasty conclusions, that’s not his style, as you know. He wants to go deep inside the qualities of this lens. Therefore we still have to wait for a study in greater depth of this lens. So be patient, read this (translated) review and wait for more.

Also here the main question is: X-E1 or X-PRO1? Is the smaller size really a PRO of this camera? The smaller size of the body required to rearrange for example the picture review button and the focus-assist light. No problem with the picture review button, but the new position of the focus-assist light isn’t the best. Of course it depends on how you hold your camera, but it’s quite easy to cover this important light with the middle finger of your right hand.

It’s not just a matter of size, of weight, EVF or OVF. It’s a different philosophy. The question is, what kind of photographer you are! So, there is no better or worse choice between X-PRO1 or X-E1. It depends on you. Do you need a compact package [with the future 27mm f2.8 pancake-type lens on Fuji’s road-map] that takes advantage of the potential of the 16 MP X-Trans sensor? Do you need a flash, or the OVF? A small or a (maybe?) more solid camera? It’s up to you.

So, read the review and let’s wait for the 18-55mm review! I’ll keep you up to date.

X-E1 in stock status check: ebay US / ebay Noth America / ebay Europe / Amazon US / Amazon GER / Amazon UK / Adorama /B&H / WexPhotgraphic

Fujifilm X-E1, Fujinon XF 35 f/1.4 R a f/1.4

TheCameraStoreTV compared this two brand new cameras, the Fuji X-E1 and the Sony NEX-6.

The X-E1 is a really tough rival for the NEX-6. In fact the X-E1 has a better dynamic range, better low light performance, better sharpness and lenses. The EVF of the X-E1 lagging behind when you move it around, but once you focus the camera, the EVF works great. On the other hand the NEX-6 makes better videos, better and flippable screen, faster focus, cheaper…

Who’s the winner? Just look at the video, and tell me in the comments if you agree with the CameraStore verdict or who is the winner for you!

There is Spanish review on quesabesde making the same comparison, and coming to the same conclusions. Read it here (translated version)

Have a great day!

X-E1 in stock status check: ebay US / ebay Noth America / ebay Europe / Amazon US / Amazon GER / Amazon UK / Adorama /B&H / WexPhotgraphic

image courtesy: mikemander.blogspot.fr

The X-E1 just hit the market, and now the number of reviews is increasing. Not everything can be posted, but I decided to dedicate to this interesting and accurate review an own post. Of course, this is just a short summary. Click here to go directly to the review. You can take a look at a lot of images. Here is the gallery to the night shots, taken on a tripod, except the last two, taken handheld with ISO3200 [take a look for example at this nightshoot: 35mm lens, handheld, 3200 ISO, 1/50 sec at f / 2.5! Now, what do you think? Leave a comment!]. Each image has EXIF data attached. Every image was shot in RAW and processed in Lightroom 4.3.

mikemander wrote a long review about the X-E1 here. He misses the hybrid-VF! But he likes “the accuracy of the exposure preview in the new EVF”. The dynamic range of the X-E1 is “indeed even better than most DSLRs I have tested.” The sharpness is “outstanding, especially with the 35mm and 60mm lenses, but the sensor helps a lot here too.” He also talks about the RAW conversion with Adobe. You already know about the native X-Trans RAW-files support problem “… Amazingly, out-of-camera JPEGs actually look far better in some ways than Adobe’s conversions.” A great camera, but not a perfect one. He makes a list of bugs he noticed. I’ll report here just a some of them:

1) When you lock either exposure, focus or both (depending on your settings) with the rear AE-L/AF-L button, the exposure dials are totally locked out. In other words, say you are f/4 and you press the rear-button to lock focus. Then you realize you want to be at f/8 so you turn the f-stop ring to f/8… well the camera frustratingly stays at f/4!.. Not only should locking focus have absolutely no effect on your exposure of course, but even if you were in, for example, aperture priority mode at f/4 and locked your exposure, the camera should still honour your settings changes. Let’s say you’re at f/4 and the camera has chosen a 1/125 shutter speed and you’ve locked focus or exposure. If you then set the aperture ring to f/5.6, the camera should then simply change the metered shutter speed to 1/60, keeping the same exposure value….. “You want to lock the exposure-value and not lock yourself out of making f-stop or shutter speed changes!”

2) When you are in manual focus mode, playing back an image causes the attached lens to be retracted to its off-state position. Then, when you resume shooting it immediately extends back to its manually focused position. On the 18mm, 35mm and 18-55mm zoom, this seems to work perfectly, but on the 60mm macro I tested, the focus position is shifted slightly.

3) He also has some suggestions, and one of them is to “implement a changeable minimum shutter speed for auto-ISO.”

But none of the niggles, quirks, and bugs he noticed is a deal-breaker, and he really enjoys the X-E1. Also the the 35mm and 60mm lenses “are about as perfect optically as one could possibly expect, especially at their extremely reasonable price points!”

He concludes saying that “naturally I’ll keep shooting with my big, heavy and wonderful Nikon D800 (click here)  kit when I want the utmost in image quality, but the little X-E1 comes surprisingly close in many ways and as a compact, lightweight walk-around camera it is very nearly perfect for my still photography needs…”

Read much more in the whole article here, and look at the sample images here. There are some macro shots with the 60mm lens here.

Here is the next video of the Fuji Guys, presenting the X-E1 and the Fujinon XF18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM. And don’t forget…the X-E1 is in Stock in US now:

Black X-E1 body on Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Silver X-E1 body on Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.

You surely remember the digitalliving review, one of the most discussed reviews on fujirumors. If you did not read it, click here to read.

The question was: X-PRO1 or X-E1? Digitalliving had a clear answer: “All in all, the X-E1 beats the X-Pro1 in every aspect, apart from the hybrid viewfinder. Cheaper, easier, and same image quality.” Also fixelpix was cought in this dilemma, as we wrote in this post here.

It’s one of the most asked questions in the reviews I’ve read. And the answers are different. And now, that the X-E1 is finally available also in the US market, is it really better to buy the X-E1 rather than the X-PRO1? Is it better to save the money, buy the X-E1, and buy an additional lens with the money you saved? Here are an autofocus comparison and four more reviews:

AF

In this video matthewemaddock compared the AF speed of X-E1 and X-PRO1. Seems to focus at the same speed, but, at least in this video, the focus is quite loud. (see the video here).

First review:

This time another German review makes the same question, but the answer is different (click here to read): The X-PRO1 beats the X-E1 in nearly every aspect, except two: 1) the external jack-connection 2) the electric remote release.

Combined with the new FUJINON XF18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS, the X-E1 is better for videos. But for those who set priorities in photography, the OVF is simply better than the EVF. The battery life of the X-PRO1 is also much better, if you use the OVF (but it’s a bit worse if you use EVF.)

Second review:

(derekclarkphotography review) X-E1 or X-PRO1? This review says that there are more similarities than differences between the X-E1 and the X-PRO1. But there are a few differences.

The X-E1 is easier. Maybe to easy? The X-PRO1 however feels quite nice in his hands. He says he will wait for the Gariz half case to be available for the X-E1, not only to protect the body, but to “add a bit of weight and make it a bit more comfortable in the hand.” I looked for all the Gariz half cases available for X-series worldwide on slidoo.com (see results here). There are also the first full cases of other brands available for the X-E1. See them all here!

The EVF of the X-E1 has a high resolution, the addition of the diopter is great.

He also says that “one thing I should point out is that although the shutter sound is as awesome as the X-Pro1, there is an extra noise as the shutter closes that sounds almost like a rapid wind on of film, very short, but I wasn’t sure if it should be there.” According to what Fuji UK told him, it’s the sound it should make.

And at the question, X-PRO1 or X-E1 he answers: “If I didn’t own any X cameras, I would buy the X-Pro1, but if you’re looking for something smaller, lighter, less expensive … then the X-E1 is the one to buy.”

Third review:

photomadd.com: X-E1, X-PRO1 or X-100? “I’d still go for the X-Pro1.  That’s coming from a position of using the X-Pro1 for the past 7 months though, I’ve got an attachment to it.  If I was starting over from scratch I might not think the X-Pro1 was worth the extra £400 (street price)... The saving over the X-Pro1 allows you to (just) buy an additional lens, and if you’re starting out that is likely to be more important than the body as it will give you more flexibility.” At the end he also says, that if he should choose between the X-E1 and X-100, he would go for the X-100. “There is something about it that isn’t replicated in either the X-Pro 1 or X-E1“. [also Ken Rockwell chose the X-100: “In case everyone forgot, the Fuji X100 is still… my favorite over the Fuji X-Pro1 and Sexy One (X-E1).”]

Fourth review

There is a Spanish review at dslrmagazine.com (translated version) that concentrates only on the comparison between X-E1 and X-PRO1. In short, there is a gap between the models. So they have a different target. But they say that the X-E1 is a complete camera.

Which one would you choose? Would you buy the X-PRO1 or the X-E1 (maybe with additional lens) ?